In this episode, Dave sits down with Nathalye Balistrire, founder of Mind-RA Mental Health Cosmetics, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurial resilience, building a mission-driven business, and the realities of creating products that fill genuine gaps in the market. You’ll hear how Nathalye immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela, learned English from scratch, and established a successful therapy practice, all before launching an innovative cosmetic line designed for neurodivergent individuals and those facing mental health challenges.

The episode covers everything from the importance of cultural awareness in business, adapting therapy models for real-world success, and the creative process behind developing waterless hygiene products for people who struggle with traditional self-care methods. Nathalye shares practical advice on surviving setbacks, pushing through self-doubt, and the value of patience and personal growth as a founder.

If you’re searching for real-world entrepreneurial stories, strategies for overcoming adversity, or new inspiration to drive your own startup, this discussion is packed with insights for business owners ready to make a different kind of impact. Learn how to bring your values into every area of your company, turn obstacles into opportunities, and serve communities that often go unseen.

Connect with Nathalye:

linkedin.com/in/nathalye-moreno-62231093/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BbibNz7aoTVKx6%2Fc0cjhxjA%3D%3D #mentalhealth #entrepreneurship #neurodivergent #innovation #purposedriven

Acquiring a customer is the expensive part. Keeping them is where brands actually build a business. Recorded live on the floor of Shoptalk Spring 2026, Dave talks with five founders and operators about everything that happens after a customer hits & 'buy' and why that's where most brands leavemoney on the table. Lifecycle marketing, returns operations, conversion analytics, fraud prevention, and retargeting all in one episode.

Guests:

Danielle Satterwhite (The Lifecycle Lab) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesatterwhite/

Marco De Paulis (Loop Returns) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdepaulis/

Harry Webster (LogRocket) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisonwebster/

Jack Niesz (Riskified) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-niesz-942a2a1a2/

Georgia Carlson (AdRoll) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiacarlson/

#shoptalk2026 #logistics #ecommerce #startups

In this episode, Dave sits down with Max Cunningham, founder and CEO of Sesh, to share an honest look at launching and scaling a high-growth consumer brand in one of the world’s most competitive and regulated industries. Hear how Max went from sports locker rooms and battling with quitting nicotine to creating a top-selling nicotine pouch product, building a modern nicotine company from the ground up.

The discussion dives into raising funding with limited resources, overcoming setbacks like maxed out credit cards and borrowing to make payroll, and the power of showing up in person to win key investors and retail partnerships. Max reveals practical lessons on handling rejection, building mental resilience, and transitioning from scrappy founder to company leader. Entrepreneurs will find actionable advice on scaling supply chains, knowing when to ask for help, supporting family during tough stretches, and surviving long enough to get the break you need.

Connect with Max: linkedin.com/in/max-cunningham-ba8bb810/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3BsPVzibtVTqWTV7HDOeopVw%3D%3D

#entrepreneurship #startups #consumerbrands #ecommerce #buccees

If your brand is still thinking about SEO the old way, this episode is a wake-up call. Dave Gulas sits down with founders from Novi, Botify, SimilarWeb, Decagon AI, and Creator IQ to unpack how agentic commerce and AI-powered search are fundamentally changing product discovery. The brands winning right now aren't chasing the technology, they're using it to fix a specific problem faster than their competitors.

Guests:

Kimberly Shenk (Novi) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyshenk/

Katrina Winfield (Botify) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-winfield-b7b0601ab/

Ben Smith (SimilarWeb) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-smith-4b815412/

Zach Linhart (Decagon AI) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-linhart-219a50196/

Hannah Collins (Creator IQ) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-hannah-collins/#shoptalk2026 #ai #ecommerce #logistics #brands

In this episode, Dave Gulas sits down with Eric Sheinkop, the founder of the Desire Company, live from the bustling energy of Shop Talk. Discover how Eric identified a real issue facing businesses today, authenticity in product recommendations, and hear the story behind the evolution of his company.

Eric shares candid examples about working with experts and passionate users, not just celebrities, to create product reviews that customers trust. The discussion covers practical ways to stand out in a crowded marketplace, why transparent content can boost buyer confidence, and the importance of pivoting when the market shifts. You’ll also hear timely thoughts about the future of AI in retail and what industry events like Shop Talk mean for networking and keeping your business ahead.

Packed with actionable takeaways and relatable stories, this is an episode for anyone serious about elevating their business, rethinking influence, and building deeper customer trust.

Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsheinkop/

#shoptalk2026 #ai #aitechnology #productrecommendation #networking #entrepreneurship

Live from Shoptalk Spring 2026 in Las Vegas. Three founders operating at the edge of what retail and commerce become next. Evan Smith from Ethosphere explains how voice AI is transforming in-store associate coaching without replacing anyone. Patrick Mitchell from AutoLane describes autonomous vehicles already routing through Palo Alto. Renzo Bojanovich from WooCommerce breaks down how open-source infrastructure gives merchants an edge in an AI-agent world.

Guests:

Evan Smith (Ethosphere) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-michael-smith/

Patrick Mitchell (AutoLane) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mitchell-37796147/

Renzo Bojanovich (WooCommerce) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renzo-bojanovich/

#shoptalk2026 #ecommerce #retail #logistics #ai #aitechnology

In this episode, we sit down with Bill Catania, founder and CEO of OneRail, to explore the journey of building a cutting-edge tech delivery platform from the ground up.

Bill candidly shares the challenges and rewards of growing OneRail from an idea at his kitchen table into a company coordinating over 300,000 deliveries per day. Hear how his team created an AI-powered delivery system serving major brands while maintaining a lean workforce, a move that reduced operational costs by 70% and set new standards in last-mile logistics. We dive deep into hiring, leadership growth, adapting technology for retail, and managing explosive year-over-year revenue growth.

This episode helps you tap into effective business models, the role of AI in streamlining operations, and the importance of empowering your team as you scale. If you're searching for actionable strategies from real founders, this conversation with Bill Catania is packed with lessons for anyone serious about growing their business smartly and efficiently.

Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billcatania/

#ai #entrepreneurship #ecommerce #logistics #delivery

Live from Shoptalk Spring 2026 in Las Vegas. Dave Gulas talks with founders and operators about the real challenge of AI adoption - not the keynote version, the hallway version. Helena Shannon, CJ Pinkham, John Hyland, Steven Amato, and Eli Weiss offer candid perspectives on what's working, what's overhyped, and what brands are actually doing about it.

Guests: Helena Shannon (Arkhive Digital) | CJ Pinkham (CJPC) | John Hyland (TeenVoice Inc.) | Steven Amato (Amaze Holdings) | Eli Weiss (YotPo)

#shoptalk2026 #ecommerce #ai #aitechnology #logistics #entrepreneur